Fourteenth Annual Mr. Watauga High School Male Pageant Raises Funds for Community Members May 10

Published Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 3:33 pm

by Madison V. Fisler

May 6, 2014. The glitz, the glamour, the excitement! For almost 15 years, Watauga High School has held the annual Mr. WHS pageant to raise funds for those in need, and this year is no different.

This year, funds raised at the pageant will go to Hardin Park Elementary fourth grade teacher Corrie Freeman who is currently battling cancer; the Earl Johnson family and an anonymous family that was selected by the county guidance counselors.

Mr. Watauga High School, presented by the Watauga High School Student Council, will be held on Saturday, May 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by students during lunches and at the school’s front office the week before the pageant takes place.

This year, the pageant features 23 participants spanning all four high school years.

“It is basically modeled after a beauty pageant,” said Emily Nolte, the student council advisor who is coordinating the event with the school’s student council.

“All the contestants are males and they are all very silly. They dress up and have a blurb that goes with their outfits and they also have a talent part, and that is the major portion of the show. Each contestant showcases their talent, and they have a question portion too that narrows it down. Judges rate and score them and then a winner is selected.”

Winners are selected for different award categories including People’s Choice and the coveted Mr. Watauga High School. Judging is handled by a panel of judges made up of teachers.

“We want to raise at least as much as last year,” Nolte said. “Last year we raised $25,000 so I suppose that is our goal. We have done lots of fundraisers. All participants and student council members had to raise $200 through sponsors, we have basket raffles that bring in money, we have ticket sales of course and we have local businesses donate and put ads in our program to up our revenue as well. There is a lot of work leading up to this event. It really is a county-wide effort.”

A limited number of tickets will also be available on the night of the event, but advanced ticket purchases are recommended. In past years, all tickets have quickly sold out.

For more information about tickets and the pageant, call Watauga High School at 828-264-2407.